Musings, Gleanings, and Inspiration

Tag Archives: Outreach

It’s time to think like a missionary. We don’t have to travel to Zimbabwe to be a missionary. We can practice missions right where we live. Let me show you 6 things that you can do this Sunday that will provide blessings and encouragement to those who will be visiting our church.

1. …and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Act 1:8 (…or at least the far parking lot.)

Imagine what an impression it will make on our visitors if there are plenty of parking spots close to the building. We can help make sure our visitors have plenty of close parking spots by getting here early enough to take those spots are the far end of the parking lot.

2. “…go and recline in the lowest place.” Luke 14:10

I know how coveted those pews along the back are. I can feel your appreciation for those seats along the aisle. We all have our familiar spots that we have made our pew-home for years. But when it comes to having a houseful of visitors, we would be good hosts and hostesses if we gave up the good seats to make sure our guest were well blessed. I think it would be a valiant missionary gesture to offer our visitors the choice seats instead of making them crawl to the middle of the pew or suffer sitting on the front row.

We’ve all known Christians who seems to be in a perpetual bad mood. Don’t be one this Sunday. A smile conveys warmth and a welcoming spirit. There’s so much to be happy about on Easter Sunday. The music will be uplifting, the crowd will be enthusiastic, we get to celebrate baptisms with those who have come to the Lord, and we get to vividly remember how great our salvation is. Share the joy in your heart through the smile on your face.

4. “A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17

The people who will be coming to worship this Sunday are looking for many things. One thing we all look for and need is community. We need friends to travel down this road we call salvation. We are not going to heaven alone; we are going with other pilgrims who have claimed Christ as savior. Be eager to reach out to someone new this weekend. It may be that God puts someone right beside you who needs the encouragement that only you can give.

5. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. Ephesians 4:29

There are going to be people in church this Sunday who do not know their way around the building. Take the initiative and ask if they need anything. Some of the more common things people may need help with are: where the bathrooms are, where the nursery is, how to become more involved the church activities. Visitors may not feel comfortable asking about these things so go ahead, break the ice, let them know you are glad they are here and offer to assist them while they are here.

6. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

In this electronic age, we can make an impression on more people, in more places than ever before, without leaving our building. When you check-in on Facebook before worship, you are letting people around the world know that you are part of a community that has something to celebrate. Social sites, like Facebook and Twitter, are part of a new mission field that was not present a decade ago. If Facebook were a nation, it would be the third most populated in the world, with its 800,000,000 subscribers. Let’s take the time to let the world know what we are doing this Easter Sunday as we gather to worship our resurrected savior.

I’m praying for you as you prepare to lead your classes and your students to a greater understanding of God’s love for them. Feel free to pass this on to others.